{"assets":[],"author_link":"author\/jeremias\/","author_name":"Steven Colling","cat":"LD #28","categories":["LD #28"],"comments":[],"epoch":1389004320,"event":"LD28","likes":2,"metadata":{"p_key":"81673","p_author":"Steven Colling","p_authorkey":"0","p_urlkey":"290790","p_title":"Biofuel Post Mortem","p_cat":"LD #28","p_event":"LD28","p_time":"1389004320","p_likes":"2","p_comments":"0","p_status":"WAYBACK","us_key":null,"us_name":null,"us_username":null,"event_start":"1386892800","event_key":"20","event_name":"LD28"},"source_url":"2014\/01\/06\/biofuel-post-mortem\/","text":"

This time, my game is like Harvest Moon, which is mainly because I played SNES Harvest Moon some days before Ludum Dare and I really wanted to do something with the farming gameplay. As the theme was announced, I considered at first the \u201cyou only get one day\u201d, because days (and time in general) plays a major role in the Harvest Moon games. Later then, I focused more on the \u201cyou only get one tool at once\u201d. I also tried to change the setting to something fresh and in the end, it\u2019s a Harvest Moon on a space station where you farm vegetables for producing biofuel. It sounds a bit awkward, and of course, it is.<\/p>\n

\"Biofuel<\/a>

Biofuel<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

\n

What Went Right<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s really awesome to have a weekend making games with buddies, because I always get very useful feedback. I\u2019m also satisfied with XNA and my little framework on top. I can do a lot of things very fast and can concentrate on making the visuals or tinkering around with the gameplay. The game got what I wanted it to be, so I\u2019m happy with that.<\/p>\n

It was also the first time I made a walking animation, which doesn\u2019t look like\u2026. it\u2019s still strange, but it looks somehow funny.<\/p>\n

\"Walking

Walking Animation<\/p><\/div>\n

\n

I also tried to make a holo-like effect for choosing the current tool at the computer.<\/p>\n

\"Holographic\"

Holographic<\/p><\/div>\n

\n

Since last Ludum Dare, I fleshed out my particle emitter system, allowing me to define particle emitters fast and easy.<\/p>\n

\"Dirt

Dirt Particles<\/p><\/div>\n

\n

(ffffzzzzzuuunnn\u2026 ffffzuuuunnnnn\u2026 looks like a dirt-digger going mad)<\/p>\n

What Went Wrong<\/strong><\/p>\n

While XNA and my framework allow me to do things fast, there are a lot of stuff which I didn\u2019t made accessible yet, like proper interfaces management (menus out of the box) and easy handling of tile-based games. But what I really miss are shaders. For the next Ludum Dare, I want to get more familiar with shaders and perhaps I have some money to buy a laptop, which is not that weak like my current one.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m also not sure if I make games which are too complicated, given the time everyone can and wants to spend for playing. But then, I don\u2019t want to make minimalistic games all the time and I see Ludum Dare primary as a way to learn and to improve (and to have fun).<\/p>\n

If you want to dig some dirt, plant vegetables, water them through their different states and then harvest them\u2026<\/p>\n

\u2026sell your computer and buy some seeds!<\/p>\n

And if you don\u2019t know in which direction a shovel must point for digging dirt, you can get some practical tips in my game, which you can play here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/p><\/p><\/p>","time":"January 6th, 2014 10:32 am","title":"Biofuel Post Mortem","title_was_empty":false}